# 2020-200 Pay and Benefits, Relocation benefits, Relocation of dependants

Case summary

F&R Date: 2021-08-31

The grievor argued that since he was authorized to move with his dependant to his new place of duty, he should have been entitled to a reimbursement of the expenses involved with consolidating his dependant's household goods and effects (HG&E) and their combined HG&E to his effects in Long Term Storage (LTS). The grievor indicated that Compensation and Benefits Instructions (CBI) 208 does not clarify the procedures for adding HG&E to LTS when a member marries during a restricted or attached posting. The grievor asserted that, in accordance with CBI 208.801, expenses could be reimbursed if they were reasonably incurred by the member or dependant during relocation.

The Initial Authority contacted the grievor to indicate that the Director General Compensation and Benefits was unable to render a decision within the four-month deadline of receiving the grievance, in accordance with Queen's Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Forces 7.15.

The Committee found that the grievor was entitled to add his accumulated HG&E and that of his spouse to his LTS at the storage unit, to the point where there would be no extra costs for the Canadian Armed Forces. The Committee also found that the grievor was entitled to reimbursement for the cost of storing and moving all of his HG&E (including his spouse's HG&E, as well as the HG&E that they had accumulated) from the LTS to the new place of service.

The Committee recommended that the Final Authority direct that the grievor be reimbursed for the cost of storing and moving his spouse’s HG&E and his additional HG&E from the LTS to the new place of service.

FA decision summary

The Director Canadian Forces Grievance Authority agreed with the Committee's recommendation that the grievance be partially upheld. The director found that the Compensation and Benefits Instruction 208.84 does not preclude a CAF member from accessing their storage unit, as long as the member's stored household goods and effects remain under the maximum weight allowed. She found that the grievor should not have been directed to store additional items in a separate long-term storage unit and should have been allowed to access his unit. The director agreed with the Committee that the grievor was not entitled to move his dependant's household goods and effects from a third location. The director also agreed that the grievor was entitled to move all of his HG&E, combined with his dependant's, from the long-term storage unit and directed reimbursement. The Director Canadian Forces Grievance Authority directed the Chief Military Personnel to develop a policy for long-term storage access for CAF members who find themselves in a situation where they need to access their storage.